My Weird Problem.Click Here!

[Ausarian]

I know that there is someone out there having the same problem as mine but already solved it. So please any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Here is my Case:

The car idles high when you just started it in the morning or whenever the engine is not in its normal running temperature. About 1800-2000 rpm and that is high right? The car runs smoothly when the engine is cold. It gives you the speed you need, no missfire and seems to be in a very good condition but after driving like 15 min, thats where the real problem starts.

When the engine gets hot, the car idles lower and lower until the engine stalls but doesnt die(you know when your running then pressed the clutch, the rpm goes down until you get the feeling the its about to die and goes back up again), you can feel the sudden loss of power, you can hear weird sounds from the muffler at random times when it idles(I cant explain it but its something like the sound of unburned gas or a cough) and lastly, it starts to sound like a V8 engine with an aftermarket muffler LOL. It has the same sound as if Im only running in 3 cylinders.

Here is What i have Checked/replaced so far.
New Spark Plugs
New Spark Plug Wires
New Rotor
New Battery(last one wasnt charging nemore)
When it starts sounding like running in 3 cylinders only, I checked all 4 sparkplug wires for sparks and they all have.



Im wondering why the problem starts when the engine gets hot. When it starts to sound like a V8 engine, I think its because im not burning all the gas and im running too rich. I was thinking that the spark gets weaker as the engine/coil gets hot.You think its because of a failing Ignition coil?

My car is an ST182 with a 3sge engine.

[Deadly Sushi]

sounds like emission problems. Any codes come up? Can you go to a AutoZone and have them read to see if there are any? Maybe a bulb on your dash burned out and you cant see if the computer spit something up.

How many miles and did you ever get any of your O2 sensors replaced? Nything relating to emissions replaced?

[Ausarian]

Umm No check engine light or maybe the check engine light is not working. I bought the car with 100000 kms in it and i dont know if the previous owner changed the o2 sensor. Your right, I failed the emission test last year and my father did something to make it pass. Nothing in the emission system has been changed so far. I dont want to spend money based on my hunch alone.

I have 3 suspects now
Failing ignition coil/igniter
O2 sensor
failing fuel injector(this is the mechanic's diagnosis. He said that maybe 1 injector is not working when the engine gets hot, thats why it sounds like a v8.But i checked my spark plugs and all of them seems normal and have the same colour.Thats why Im doubting this but its possible since im running overly rich)

[Ausarian]

Bump.....

Inputs are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Deadly Sushi]

OK.... it COULD be a coil going bad too. Have you checked your coils?

[jdmanderson]

have u checked ur cat?

[stepho]

Sounds like it is running super rich.
When cold only a little of the fuel is burnt but that little portion of heaps too much works out just right.
As it warms up it doesn't need that much and starts to run bad.
Fuel vapour on the exhaust cause all sort sof nasty noises.

Not sure what would cause that but a bad O2 sensor caused my Cressida to run a little rich.

Or what happened to a friend was an injector had some grit in it which held it open all the time - the excess fuel burning in the exhaust turned his cat cherry red.

- Stepho

[javajovm]

This sounds a similar (but more severe) problem to what I experienced consistently with my 2000 GT-S, but it was something I attributed to my MAF sensor being dirty.

It ran poorly for over a year until I took it into a random shop on the side of the road (took it to a recommended shop twice previously and they were clueless) and they had it solved in 2 hours. Basically all they had to do was clean the MAF sensor and my baby was running like hell on wheels again.

I've read articles that say you can clean a MAF sensor by unloading a can of CRC contact cleaner onto the sensor (no touching! no blow drying!). Maybe give that a try?

P.S.: My apologies if O2 and MAF are the same sensor, but afaik they are separate parts, and the MAF is far more accessible.

[RobMilkshakes]

mass air flow sensor is in the intake, oxygen sensor(s) is in the exhaust so you're good

I guess check to see if its running really rich, usually the plugs end up darker quicker and if its super pig rich you can even smell the gas in the exhaust

[javajovm]

Ah. Yes. That sounds familiar. In that case the MAF is definitely more accessible than the O2.

Thanks for reminding me

[RobMilkshakes]

yeah, maf sensors you can usually pop out pretty easily, o2 sensors aren't too bad but tthe bolts holding them can be a pain sometimes with age.

um, I'd say check the sensors, thats usually the more likely culprit
would you happen to be getting any codes?

[2KGTS]

MAF and catalytic converter would be my first two thoughts...

[Ausarian]

I have a big problem now. I went to a toyota spare parts shop and tried to order a new o2 sensor but they dont have one for st182. They only have the one for st185 or something like that I think. So I tried to order is coz they said that it would fit but they sadly, its out of stock.

Do you think that my celica doesnt have an o2 sensor? Coz I checked the exhaust system but I cannot see any slot for a sensor or anything plugged in somewhere there.


Update: I have noticed that it doesnt do that helicopter v8 like sound when its hot, if the aircon is turned on and it runs pretty good. Then when I switch off the aircon, it will start to cough like there are lots of unburned fuel. Any ideas about this?

[asphalt victory]

do a compression test you might have a dead cylinder